re: Digging a Pond Questions - Best way for fish and managing snakes?

In addition to some good info you've gotten here, there are pond forums if you are interested.

I have a friend with one and I donated some culverts to him that we dropped in with a front end loader. Good permanent habitat that algae will grow on.

Also, in one corner I brought him a couple of pick up truck beds full of broken slab pieces.

He had also anchored some big trees in it while it was dry.

PVC "Crappie Condos" too.